Kansas

Kansas marijuana debate: tax dollars vs. crime concerns

Published

5 months ago

February 25, 2026

Kansas marijuana debate: tax dollars vs. crime concerns

TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW) – Kansas House Democrats on Tuesday discussed separate bills to legalize recreational and medical marijuana use, citing a recent Kansas Speaks survey showing 70% of Kansans support medical legalization and 60% support recreational use.

Supporters say the legislation would generate revenue for affordable housing, childcare and property tax relief. Opponents say legalization would worsen the state’s mental health crisis and increase crime.

What supporters say

Rep. Ford Carr, D-Wichita, said the bills would direct significant revenue back to residents.

“In this legislation, we’re gonna take those funds — which could be, you know, we’re talking about $1 billion and we’re gonna give that back to the people,” Carr said.

Rep. Heather Meyer, D-Overland Park, said Kansans are already crossing state lines to access cannabis.

“I live right on the Kansas-Missouri border. The closest dispensary is 12 minutes away[…]We’ve got cannabis on the other side of the state line. You’ve got minivans with JoCo tags on them, Wyandotte tags on them,” Meyer said.

Rep. John Alcala, D-Topeka, said constituents have long pressed him on the issue.

“I used to receive tons of emails from parents whose children needed medical cannabis for seizures. I still receive an overwhelming amount of emails from our veterans suffering from PTSD,” Alcala said.

What opponents say

Katie Patterson, a representative for Stand Up for Kansas who spent more than 18 years with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, said she opposes the bills and that crime has increased in states where marijuana has been legalized in some form.

“I’ve seen firsthand how substance use, abuse and addiction impact lives, families, communities and create strains on criminal justice systems,” Patterson said.

Patterson said the FDA should serve as the standard for what qualifies as medicine.

“Medicines should be based on clinical data and robust amounts of research demonstrating medical efficacy for treatment of certain conditions,” Patterson said.

She also said increased access leads to increased use and warned of consequences for the state’s mental health system.

“We in this state have a mental health crisis. This is a policy conversation that would further exacerbate that crisis that we currently have on our hands with treatment in Kansas,” Patterson said.

What happens next

The bills were referred to the House Federal and State Affairs Committee. No hearing has been scheduled. Supporters said they do not expect the bills to advance this session but said they intend to continue raising the issue.

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Kansas

Chiefs Name Burns & McDonnell as Owner’s Representative for New Practice Facility and Headquarters in Olathe

Published

11 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

Chiefs Name Burns & McDonnell as Owner’s Representative for New Practice Facility and Headquarters in Olathe

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – On Thursday, the Kansas City Chiefs made their first major announcement for the club’s future day-to-day home, naming Kansas City-based Burns & McDonnell as owner’s representative for the team’s practice facility and headquarters project in Olathe, Kansas.

“We are extremely excited to have Burns & McDonnell join our project team as owner’s representative for our new practice facility and headquarters that we will be building in Olathe,” Chiefs Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Matt Kenny said. “As a local, employee-owned firm with a track record of project success around the world, we know they have the right mix of local knowledge as well as global experience to help us navigate the upcoming design and construction phases of a truly unique year-round home for our football team and staff.”

Burns & McDonnell will team with CAA ICON to serve as the franchise’s trusted advisor throughout the development of the new team facilities that support both business and football operations. Working alongside Chiefs project leaders, they will provide independent oversight and experienced leadership to guide the process from early planning through construction and occupancy. They will coordinate with architects, engineers, contractors, consultants, and other key stakeholders to support project execution, maintain alignment with budget and schedule objectives, manage risk, and help ensure the facility is delivered to the high standards expected by the Chiefs organization.

“We are honored to partner with the Kansas City Chiefs on this transformational project,” said Jon Wright, senior vice president and general manager of the Buildings Market at Burns & McDonnell. “The Chiefs have had an extraordinary impact on our region for generations, and this investment represents an exciting new chapter for the organization and the Kansas City community. As a Kansas City-based company, it is a privilege to help bring that vision to life by providing experienced project leadership from planning through construction. We look forward to working alongside the Chiefs and the entire project team to deliver a world-class facility for the organization, its staff and Chiefs Kingdom.”

Set to open ahead of the 2031 football season, the Chiefs new $300 million practice facility and headquarters – as well as an associated mixed-use development – will be located on approximately 155 acres near the intersection of College Boulevard and Ridgeview Road in Olathe.

Additional announcements related to the design and construction of the club’s new practice facility and headquarters in Olathe are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.

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Kansas

Kansas Lottery Powerball, Pick 3 winning numbers for July 15, 2026

Published

23 hours ago

July 16, 2026

Press Room

The Kansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at July 15, 2026, results for each game:

Winning Powerball numbers from July 15 drawing

02-07-18-29-38, Powerball: 16, Power Play: 2

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from July 15 drawing

Midday: 3-3-6

Evening: 0-9-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning 2 By 2 numbers from July 15 drawing

Red Balls: 02-03, White Balls: 08-22

Check 2 By 2 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from July 15 drawing

26-29-41-46-47, Star Ball: 09, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Super Kansas Cash numbers from July 15 drawing

06-08-14-24-26, Cash Ball: 01

Check Super Kansas Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from July 15 drawing

01-05-18-23-33, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Kansas Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at select Kansas Lottery offices.

By mail, send a winner claim form and your signed lottery ticket to:

Kansas Lottery Headquarters

128 N Kansas Avenue

Topeka, KS 66603-3638

(785) 296-5700

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a claim form, and deliver the form along with your signed lottery ticket to Kansas Lottery headquarters. 128 N Kansas Avenue, Topeka, KS 66603-3638, (785) 296-5700. Hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at Kansas Lottery.

When are the Kansas Lottery drawings held?

Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3 Midday/Evening: 1:10 p.m. and 9:10 p.m. CT daily.
2 By 2: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
Lucky for Life: 9:38 p.m. CT daily.
Lotto America: 9:15 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Super Kansas Cash: 9:10 p.m. CT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Kansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kansas

Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

Published

1 day ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

Kansas cases climb in ‘explosive diarrhea’ outbreak

WICHITA, Kan. (KWCH) – As health officials gain insight into the nationwide outbreak of the intestinal illness, cyclosporiasis, data from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment show a sharp increase in cases within the Sunflower State.

As of Wednesday, KDHE is reporting 55 cases of the “explosive diarrhea” outbreak for the year, including 25 this month. A breakdown of the Kansas cases shows a balance of cases among males and females. The state data doesn’t break down county-by-county numbers, but on Tuesday, Sedgwick County confirmed five cases for the year, a total that is likely to jump with the additional statewide confirmations.

Also on Tuesday, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services said it identified lettuce and other salad greens as a potential source of the outbreak.

Adding to the concern about produce, Taco Bell issued a statement saying it had “voluntarily and temporarily removed limited ingredients at select restaurants as a precautionary measure.

“We will continue to closely monitor the situation and follow the guidance of public health authorities,” the restaurant chain said.

Sedgwick County offered guidance on ways to protect yourself from cyclosporiasis and bacterial illnesses connected with produce:

Wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly under running water before eating, cutting, or preparing them.
- Scrub firm fruits and vegetables, such as melons and cucumbers, with a clean produce brush.
- Cut away any damaged or bruised areas on fruits and vegetables before preparing and eating.
- Avoid bagged lettuce or salad mixes. When eating a whole head of lettuce, remove the first two or three layers of leaves and thoroughly wash the inner leaves under running water. Separate the leaves as you wash them.
Heating food to 158 degrees or higher kills the parasite.
Practice good hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water before preparing or eating food and after using the bathroom or changing diapers.
Travelers to cyclosporiasis-endemic areas should follow food and water precautions, including avoiding foods and beverages that may be contaminated.
Be aware that Cyclospora is unlikely to be killed by routine chemical disinfection or sanitizing methods.
If you develop symptoms of cyclosporiasis, especially persistent watery diarrhea, contact a healthcare provider for evaluation and treatment recommendations.